Two station receptacle and weighing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A BAG FILLING AND WEIGHING APPARATUS HAVING A BAG APPLYING STATION AND DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE THERETO A SINGLE COMBINED FILLING AND WEIGHING STATION AT WHICH SIMULTANEOUS FEEDING OF ARTICLES BY BOTH BULK AND DRIBBLE FEED METHODS IS PROVIDED, BOTH DRIBBLE AND BULK FEED HAVING A COMMON DISCHARGE ZONE AND BOTH DRIBBLE AND BULK FEED BEING OPERABLE UNTIL A PRESELECTED UNDERWEIGHT CONDITION IS REACHED AT WHICH TIME THE BULK FEED IS STOPPED AND THE DRIBBLE FEED CONTINUES FEEDING UNTIL A PRECISE FINAL WEIGHT IS REACHED AT THE SINGLE STATION. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES MEANS TO RAPIDLY TRANSMIT WEIGHT OF EACH ARTICLE TO A SCALE BEFORE THE ARTICLE IS RECEIVED IN A BAG OR BOX, AND INCLUDES MEANS TO IMPART VIBRATIONS IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE TO THE BAG OR BOX DURING FILLING INDEPENDENTLY OF THE WEIGHT SENSING BY THE SCALE.   D R A W I N G

3,814,196 June 4, 1974 McClusky Ave., Bakersfield, Calif. 93305 [22]Filed: July 13, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 271,495

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 179,761, Sept.13, 1971, Pat.

[52] US. Cl. 177/54, 177/123 1511 Int. Cl. G0lg 13/00, GOlg 13/02- [58]Field of Search 177/52, 53, 54, 120, 122, 177/123, 160

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,903,230 9/1959 Schachte177 122 x 3,073,399 l/l963 Dur-undm 177/122 X 3,416,620 12/1968 McClusky177/123 3,620,317 11/1971 TWO STATION RECEPTACLE AND WElGHlNG APPARATUSInventor: Stanley A. McClusky, 3001 Baylor Henry 177/123 X PrimaryExaminer-George H. Miller, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward F. Jams [57] ABSTRACT A bag filling andweighing apparatus having a bag applying station and diametricallyopposite thereto a single combined filling and weighing station at whichsimultaneous feeding of articles by both bulk and dribble feed methodsis provided, both dribble and bulk feed having a common discharge zoneand both dribble and bulk feed being operable until a preselectedunderweight condition is reached at which time the bulk feed is stoppedand the dribble feed continues feeding until a precise final weight isreached at the single station. The apparatus includes means to rapidlytransmit weight of each article to a scale before the article isreceived in a bag or box, and includes means to impart vibrations in ahorizontal plane to the bag or box during filling independently of theweight sensing by the scale.

l0Claims, 14 Drawing Figures TWO STAT ION RECEPTACLE AND WEIGHINGAPPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON Receptacles such as bags or boxesare required by industry and by the government to contain the precisenumber of articles marked on said receptacles or at least the designatedweight of contents marked on the receptacles. It is necessary to achieveat least such marked weight and preferably the precise weight since anyoverage is a loss to the supplier. Prior proposed ap paratuses haveincluded machines for weighing articles fed to the receptacle until aselected weight is reached. Very rapid filling and weighing of suchreceptacles by articles of produce such as potatoes and the like hasbeen achieved by such prior proposed apparatus in which the quantity andvolume has reached from 600 to a 1,000 boxes per hour. There is,however, a present need in packing houses of machines of lower volumeand capacity and rapidly fill and weigh receptacles without the expenseof filling and weighing equipment which may be used for only a shortperiod of time and at only a small fraction of designated capacity.Exampics of such prior proposed high capacity filling and weighingequipment are disclosed in my US. letters Pat. No. 3,416,619 and3,416,620.

In such latter prior constructions, a separate bulk feed station with anassociated weighing device and a spaced separate dribble feed stationwith anassociated weighing scale was utilized to successively fill andweigh a box to a preselected weight. Each station has a separate articledischarge station for the feed conveyors. A receptacle being filled thusmade at least two stops before filling was completed and the receptacleconveyor was correlated in its movement to properly and timely positiona receptacle at each of the bulk and dribble feed stations.

In other prior proposed constructions, a vibrating tray type conveyormoved articles continuously along bulk and dribble feed paths, bulk feedbeing discharged into an accumulator while the dribble feed was beingdischarged into a weigh bucket below its accumulator, both bulk anddribble feed trays being continuously vibrated. During change ofreceptacles both dribble and bulk feeds discharged into their respectiveaccumulators because of the continuous vibrating feeding action of thetray conveyor US. Pat. No. 3,540,538).

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention relates to a relativelylow cost filling and weighing apparatus of selected capacity and volumeto fill the need of packing houses having relatively small or mediumpacking volume requirements. More particularly the present inventioncontemplates a filling and weighing apparatus for receptacles such asbags which is flexibly arranged for adaption to various at the singlefilling and weighing station and one weighing scale is used. A novelarticle conveyor means is used to deliver such articles to a commondischarge zone where both bulk and dribble fed articles are directlydischarged to a receptacle. To facilitate rapid feeding, both bulk anddribble feed belt means are used to fill the bag, the bulk feed beltmeans being stopped at a predetermined underweight condition and thedribble feed belt means continuing until a precise weight condition isachieved. Upon filling a bag at the filling and weighing station, therotatable arm means is turned through and during its travel the filledbag is released on a conveyor means for transport to a sewing meanswhere the top of the bag is sewn closed. Upon completion of the halfturn, one end of the arm means is positioned at the bag applying stationand the other end, with a bag thereon, is positioned at the fillingstation.

A primary object of the present invention is to disclose and provide afilling and weighing apparatus of simplified and inexpensiveconstruction for packaging and weighing of articles under relativelymedium volume requirements.

An object of the invention is to disclose and provide a filling andweighing apparatus including an article conveyor means of a novelconstruction.

Another object of the' invention is to disclose and provide such anarticle conveyor means wherein bulk and dribble feed conveyor belt meansare so associated and correlated in operation that both belt means areemployed to fill a bag to a preselected underweight condition to achieverapid filling of the bag.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a compositeunitary article feed conveyor means wherein a dribble feed belt meansisvertically spaced and is parallel to the bulk feed belt means for amajor portion of the length of a conveyor means, the dribble feed beltmeans then merging at a common dis charge zone with the bulk feed beltmeans.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novelreceptacle filling and weighing means wherein the determination ofweight of each article is made before an article is deposited in thereceptacle and final precise weight is determined while the articlemaking such final weight is moving from the dribble belt to thereceptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to disclose and provide meansfor immediately sensing weight of an article traveling in a dischargepath to a receptacle whereby succeeding articles may be stopped beforeentering the discharge path.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means forimparting vibrations to a receptacle being filled in a plane which willnot interrupt or interfer with the weighing of articles being fed to thereceptacle.

The invention comtemplates a novel arrangement of a receptacle, weighingplatform ofa scale, and delivery means of the receptacle whereby theweight of each article is transmitted to the scale before the article isreceived in the receptacle, such weight sensing and transmittal beingprovided for bulk and dribble feed means. Means are provided for shakingonly the receptacle while feeding of articles thereto, particularlyduring bulk feeding, shaking being stopped during final dribble feeding.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of the drawings in which anexemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. i

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bag filling andweighing apparatus embodying this invention, and showing an articleconveyormeans partly in section,

the section being taken in a vertical plane passing gen- 1 station.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the planes indicated bylines IVIV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken in the planeindicated by line V-V of FIG. 4, a portion of the bag and holder beingbroken away. 1

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the verticalplane indicated by the line VI-Vl of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken. in the vertical planeindicated by line VIIVll of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a circuit arrangement utilized in theapparatus shown in FIG. 1 and showing a portion of the weighing scale.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of amodification of the discharge end of the conveyor means and weighing ofarticles discharged by the dribble feed belt.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated byline XX of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section and similarto FIG. 9, of a modification of the invention ans showing means toimpart vibrations to a receptacle.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the vibratorymeans shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view taken from the plane indicated by line XIII-XIII ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane indicated byline XIV-XIV of FIG. 13.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4, an apparatus embodying thisinvention is generally indicated at 10 and may include a bag carryingmeans 11 for transporting or conveying in a circular path a bag 12. Bag12 may be attached to and suspended from a bag holding means 14 at a bagapplying or bag attachment station 15 for movement to and through a bagfilling and weighing station 16. At the bag filling and weighing station16, a novel composite single bulk and dribble feed I conveyor meansgenerally indicated at 18 moves discrete articles such as potatoes orother produce, to a common discharge zone at station 16 whereby bothbulk and dribble feed means simultaneously are used to fill bag 12 to aselected weight at one filling station. At station 16, weighing means 17are associated with bag holding means 14 so that weight of the articlesfed to the bag will cause the bulk portion of the feed conveyor means tostop at a less than final weight condition and then cause a dribble feedportion of the conveyor means to stop at a final precise weight. The bag12. is then moved by the bag carrying means to a discharge or bagrelease station 20 where the filled bag is transported by a filled bagtransport or conveyor means 21 to a bag sewing station 22 where the topof the bag is sewn into closed position for shipping and storage.

In this example, the bag 12 may comprise a pliant flexible receptacle orcontainer of suitable fabric such as burlap or of paper or plasticmaterial. Exemplary bag 12 is elongated and has a closed bottom and anopen top of selected diameter so that it may be readily sleeved over andassociated with the lower portion of bag holding means 14 as laterdescribed.

In exemplary apparatus 10 (FIG. 2), a base frame means generallyindicated at 24 may comprise a rectangular base frame 25 of framemembers having a suitable cross-sectional configuration such asrectangular. Base frame 25 may provide a support means for bag carryingmeans 11, article conveyor means 18, and

weighing means 17 at station 16 for weighing the filled bags. A baseframe 26 separated from base frame 25 may similarly be of rectangularform with frame members of square cross-section for supporting thesewing means at sewing station 22 and filled bag conveyor means 21.Other constructions of base frame means 24 may be utilized; however, theseparateness of base frames 25 and 26 affords ready, convenientadaptation of apparatus 10 to different space conditions.

Bag carrying means 11 comprises an upstanding column or post 30 ofpolygonal cross-section, column 30 being secured in a suitable manner asby welding to an end transverse frame member 31 of the base frame 25.The upper end of column 30 carries therewithin a suitable bearing means32 for an upstanding stub shaft 33 which projects above the top ofcolumn 30. Supported in fixed relation on the upper portion of shaft 33and spaced above the top of column 30 is a transverse arm means 34having an intermediate beam 35 provided with a central bore 36 toreceive in fixed relation shaft 33 as by a key and slot means (notshown). The bearing means 32 may include suitable thrust bearings sothat under load arm means 34 may be readily manually rotated. Transversearm means 34 also includes spaced parallel side members 37 joined byinterconnecting end members 38 to provide a rigid beam-like structurefor carrying bag holding means 14 at each end and a filled bag 12.

Bag holding means 14 may include an open-ended hollow polygonal incross-section, body member 40 having a tubular wall 41 provided with anarticle inlet opening 42 facing away from column 30 and formed in theupper portion of body member 40 for direct communication with thedischarge zone of conveyor means 18 for admitting articles for passagethru hollow body' member 40 and then into a bag 12 carried thereby.Opposite side portions of wall 41 are provided with angle brackets 44each of which includes a port 45 to loosely receive a hanger bolt 46carried by an extension 47 of side arm member 37 for supporting bodymember 40 from armmeans 34. Bolt 46 is provided with an enlarged head 48and nut 49 with sufficient space between nut 49, bracket 44 and thebottom edge of side extension 47 to permit free loose relative movementof body member 40 with respect to arm means 34 to permit weighing of bag12 as later described. Such hanging or supporting condition is shown atthe left of FIG. 3 where nut 49 is in Contact with bracket 44. Theweighing condition is shown at the right of FIG.. 3 where nut 49 is outof contact with bracket 44.

Holding means 14 also includes means for frictionally grasping andreleasing the top end of a bag 12. As best seen in FIG. 5-, an examplarybag clamping means in cludes arcuate clamping shoes 50 each having afriction surface 51 for pressing against a surface of the top end of abag 12 to frictionally hold the top end of bag 12 against the outersurface of wall 41. Each clamping shoe 50 is carried on a curvedclamping member 52 which is pivotally mounted at 53 from a yoke 54carried at one end ofa bail-like member 55 which is pivotally mounted at56 to body wall 41. Bail member 55 terminates in a central singleextension rod 57 to which is fixed oneend of a trailing arm 58 uponwhich is rotatably mounted adjacent its other end a cam follower wheel59. Cam follower wheel 59 rollably engages top cam surface 60 of anannular cam ring 61 secured by suitable angle brackets 62 to column 30.

Means for adjusting the clamping and frictional grasping of the frictionshoe 50 against wall 41 comprises an arcuate surface 63 on member 52providing a bearing face 64 for an adjusting nut 65 threaded in theextremity of bail member 55. Since pivotal mounting 53 of member 52 isabout an axis offset from the center of curvature of clamping shoe 50,it will be apparent that adjustment of bolt 65 will vary the pressureengagement of shoe 50 with the bag when the bag is positioned betweenthe shoe and the wall 41.

When a bag is assembled on the bag holding means 14, the top' open endof the bag is raised into ensleevin relationship with the lower portionof body 40 and is moved upwardly until friction surface 51 of ensleevingshoes 50 are displaced upwardly and the top portion of one bag islocated between the shoe and the wall 41. When the clamp shoes return bygravity to their normal position in contact with wall 41., each shoe 50tightly frictionally clamps the fabric of bag 12 against wall 41 to theextent permitted by the location of adjustment bolt 65 which limits thedownward movement of the curved friction shoe 50. v

Release from frictional engagement of shoe 50 with bag 12 occurs bylifting upwardly on yoke arm 55 'so thata lifting force is imparted toshoe 50 by pivotal action of bail arm 55 about its pivot 56 when thefollower wheel 59 engages an upwardly directed cam face 67 provided onthe top of cam ring 61. Thus, as cam follower wheel 59 is raised, theadjustment bolt 65 carried on the opposite side of pivotal axis 56presses downwardly on the shoe member 52 causing pivotal movement aboutaxis 53 to lift friction surface 51 of'shoe 50 upwardly and away fromthe fabricof bag 12. The cam ramp face 67 is opposite release station 20and a filled bag 12 is released and deposited upon the adjacent end ofthe filled bag conveyor means 21.

Having described operational functions of one bag holding means 14, andreturning to the empty bag condition, it will be noted that an empty bag12 attached to bag holding means 14 as above described may then bepositioned at the bagfilling and weighing station 16 by manuallyrotating arm means 34 through 180 to position bag holding means 14 atthe discharge end of conveyor means 18. Means to accurately stop andreleaseably hold the arm at such filling position may be provided by anupwardly directed biased ball detent means 70 carried on the top of eachmember 38 and adapted for releasable detent holding engagement with adetent recess or port 71 provided on a bracket 72 carried by end wall 73of conveyor means18.

Article conveyor means 18 is of novel construction and operation and issupported in upwardly inclined relation by suitable upstanding spacedframe members secured to base frame 25. Article conveyor means 18includes an article retaining zone 81 defined by upwardly and outwardlyinclined surfaces 83 and 84 of side and end conveyor walls enclosingfeed conveyor belt means 86 and 87 located below surfaces 83, 84. Thelowerend wall 88 may be upwardly extended to facilitate filling andretention of articles at the lower end of the feed conveyor means. Atits upper end, conveyor means 18 includes end wall 89 which overhangsbag holding means 14 and which is provided with a downwardly facingcut-out or notch 90 corresponding with the configuration of the articleinlet opening 42 of the body 40 so that articles discharged fromconveyor means 18 will be guided into the open through passageway of bagholding means 14. A suitable downwardly inclined discharge surface 91 onconveyor means 18 is also provided.

The belt means 86 may be wider than belt means 87 and serves as a bulkfeed conveyor for moving a plurality of articles in bulk random fashionto a discharge zone at the upper endof conveyor means 18 for transfer tothe bag 12 through bag holding means 14. Belt means 86 may'includetransverse longitudinally spaced cleats 93. As best seen in FIG. 6, beltmeans 86 is provided with an upper belt lay 96 supported by an invertedchannel section member 97 extending longitudinally for the length ofconveyor means 18 and secured as by welding to the side wall of theconveyor.

Extending alongside and spaced vertically above the top lay 96 of thebulk feed belt 86 is the top belt lay 98 of the dribble feed belt 87,the top lay 98 being supported by an inverted channel section'member 100secured as by welding to the opposite side wall of the conveyor 18.

In FlGS. l, 6 and 7 it will be noted that the lower end of the bulk feedbelt 86 is supported from a transverse axle 101 which carries a suitabledrum 102 about which the belt 86 passes. Similarly the lower end of thedribble feed belt 87 is supported by an axle 103 having a drum 104thereon to support the belt 87 as it turns about axle 103, axle 103being spaced forwardly of axle 101. Both drums 102 and 104 may be idledrums.

The top lay 98 rises above the level of toplay 96 by spacing channelmember 100 above channel 97 for a major portion of the length of beltmeans 86, 87. Such vertical spacing is at least greater than the heightof an article on belt means 86 so that excess articles on lay 98 mayfall to lay 96 as the articles are advanced towards the discharge zone.

At the top end of conveyor means 18, it will also be noted that the toplays 96, 98 come together and merge into the same discharge zone (FIG.7). The top ends of belts 86, 87 are supported by drive drums 104 and105 respectively of the same diameter and supported about a singlecommonaxial fixed shaft 106 secured against rotation as by welding to alongitudinal partition wall 107 provided at the discharge zone ofconveyor means 18. In this example, drive drum 104 includes a lateral Ihub 108 which extends outboardly from wall 82 and is supported in asuitable bearing means 109 secured to wall 82. At the outer end of hubmeans 108 is carried a sprocket 110 engaged by a drive roller chainmeans 111 connected to drive welding to the side wall of the conveyor.

7 Extending alongside and spaced vertically above the top lay 96 of thebulk feed belt 86 is the top belt lay 98 of the dribble feed belt 87,the top lay 98 being supported by an inverted channel section member 100secured as by welding to the opposite side wall of the conveyor 18.

In F108. 1, 6 and 7 it will be noted that the lower end of the bulk feedbelt 86 is supported from a transverse axle 101 which carries a suitabledrum 102 about which the belt 86'passes. Similarly the lower end of thedribble feed belt 87 is supported by an axle 103 having a drum 104thereon tosupport the belt 87 as it turns about axle 103, axle 103 beingspaced forwardly of axle 101. Both drums 102 and 104 may be idle drums.

The top lay 98 rises above the level of top lay 96 by spacing channelmember above channel 97 for a major portion of the length of belt means86, 87. Such vertical spacing is at least greater than the height of anarticle on belt means 86 so that excess articles on lay 98 may fall tolay 96 as the articles are advance towards the discharge zone.

At the top end of conveyor means 18, it will also be noted that the toplays 96, 98 come together and merge into the same discharge zone (FIG.7). The top ends of belts 86, 87 are supported by drive drums 104 and105 respectively of the same diameter and supported about a singlecommon axial fixed shaft 106 secured against rotation as by welding to alongitudinal partition wall 107 provided at the discharge zone ofconveyor means 18. ln this example, drive drum 104 includes a lateralhub 108 which extends outboardly from wall 82 and is supported in asuitable bearing means 109 secured to wall 82. At the outer end of hubmeans 108 is carried a sprocket 110 engaged by a drive roller chainmeans 111 connected to drive motor means 112 which has a motor shaft andsprocket engaging the lower end of drive chain means 11 and which issupported by base frame 25 at the conveyor means 18.

Similarly, the dribble feed belt 98 has its drive drum 105 providedwith'an outboardly extending hub 114 supported by a bearing means 115carried by the opposite side wall of the conveyor. At its outer end, hub114' supports a sprocket 116 which is engaged by a drive roller chainmeans 117 which is connected in similar manner to a drive motor means118 on base frame 25 through a motor shaft and sprocket which engagesthe lower end of chain means 117.

Articles to be bagged such as potatoes or other produce are supplied tothe lower end of conveyor means 18 from a suitable source in a suitablemanner. The articles are distributed over the lower ends of the two feedbelts 86 and 87. Upon actuation of the belts 86 and 87 which are drivensimultaneously at the same v rate of speed, articles are advancedupwardly until they are discharged over-the common top end of belt means86 and 87 onto discharge apron 91 for feeding through the bag holdingmeans into the bag 12. Since the dribble belt means has a higherelevation for a major portion of its length, articles conveyed therebywill either fall onto the bulk feed belt means or will fall rearwardlyso that when a pocket defined by spaced transverse cleats on the top layof the dribble feed conveyor reach the top a discrete preselectedarticle or plurality of articles is available for feeding into bag 12.Since both conveyor means transport articles at the same rate of speedit will be readily apparent that maximum capacity of the conveyor means18 is used to rapidly fill bag 12 while at the same time this dribblebelt means 87 is conditioned to feed articles in preselected discreteamounts to a precise bag weight.

At bag filling and weighing station 16 it is desired that a preselectedweight be carried by each bag 12. lnthis example weighing means 17includes a well-known beam scale and is located at station 16 with aweighing platform 120 located beneath the discharge zone and bag 12. Atopposite sides of platform 120 and fixed thereto are spaced upstandingweight transmitting posts 121 having inwardly extending transverse topplates 122 of a width approximately that a bag holding means 14 orslightly greater and including inclined approach ramps 123 and departureramps 124. Each bag holding means 14 carries diametrically outwardlydirected arms 126 carrying ball roller means 127 for rolling engagementwith the inturned plates 122. Thus, when a bag holding means and bag ismoved into the filling and weighing station 16 the ball roller means 127engages the inclined ramps 123 to lift the bag holding means and bagoffits hanging support at nuts 49 so that the scale means will beresponsive to the weight of the articles fed to the bag 12 and to thetare weight of the bag holding means 14 and associated equipment carriedby the bag holding means.

Means for actuating conveyor means 18 for a filling and weighingoperation includes a limit switch means 130 (FIGS. 4 and 8) having acontact member 131 adapted to be engaged by an upstanding pin 132provided on the arm means 34. Upon closing of the normally open limitswitch 130, motor means 112 and 118 of the conveyor means 18 areenergized and both dribble feed belts 87 and main feed belt 86 aresimultaneously actuated and driven at the same rate to move articles tothe discharge zone and into the bag 12. As the bag is filled the scaleplatform 120 is depressed and limit switch means 134 carried by thescale and having a contact arm 1340 to be engaged by indicator 135 isactuated'into open position to stop the drive motor means 112 and tostop the main feed belt 86. Such independent operation of the main feedbelt does not effect the continuing operation of the dribble feed belt87 which adds articles to the bag until the final weight is reached andwhich time limit switch 136 having contact arm 136a engageable by aswitch element carried by the indicator is actuated to open position tostop the dribble feed conveyor. Upon stopping of both feed belts theoperator manually turns the arm means 34'to position an empty bag 12 atthe filling and weighing station 16 and to move the filled bag throughthe bag release station 18 where the bag is deposited upon a receivingend 140 of transport conveyor 21.

Transport conveyor 21 may be suitably mounted upon the base frame 26 andcarries a filled bag 12 to sewing station 22. At sewing station 22 apair of upstanding lateral supporting belt means 142 may be providedtogether with means for grasping and carrying the top portions of thefilled bag in closed relation to sewing head means 144 at which positiona sewing needle secures the top of the bag in closed relation with a.selected form of stitching well known in the art. The

It is important to note that apparatus 10 provides a bag filling andweighing apparatus which fills a need for efficient rapid filling ofbags with articles by partly manually and partly power driven machine.Filling and weighing machines of two filling and weighing station typeshown in my U.S. letters Pat. 3,416,617 and 3,416,620 are designed forgreater capacity and volume with less manual operation.

In apparatus 10, arm means 34 is essentially positioned at only twostations, one a bag attaching station and the other the bag filling andweighing station. The bag release station is passed through during thetransition of an end of arm means 34 from one of the first mentionedstations to the other. Both bag filling and weighing is accomplished atone station with precise weight being achieved by the novel constructionand operation of the conveyor means 18. Thus, while articles are fed atrandom and indiscriminately to the feed end of conveyor means 18 bothdribble and bulk feed belts are fully used simultaneously to feedarticles into the bag for the initial below final weight bag fillingcondition. When the below weight condition is reached, the main feedbelt 86 is stopped and the dribble feed belt continues adding articlesto the bag at station 16 in discrete selected amounts so thatoverfilling beyond a preselected tolerance will not occur. Thus,apparatus 10 serves to effectively and efficiently precisely fill bagsor receptacles presentedto the bag filling and weighing station 16without movement of the bag from the one filling and weighing station.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, means to increase the rateof filling and weighing of a bag is illustrated. In this embodiment,means including a discharge apron 1191 for the dribble feed means isseparated and slightly spaced from the discharge apron 192 which guidesarticles in bulk feeding into a receptacle. In this example; dischargeaprons 191, 192 are supported independently and are carried onrespectively upstanding columns 193, 194, which have their bottom endsfixed to scale platform 120. Columns 193, 194 extend past or throughopenings in plate 122. It will be noted from the above description thatbag holding means 14 in weighing position is supported from plate 122which is carried by upstanding columns 121 fixed to scale platform 120.

As articles are fed from both dribble and bulk feed conveyor belts 87and 86 and articles strike discharge aprons 191, 192, weights of thearticles are immediately transmitted to scale platform 120 throughcolumns 193, 194 before the article is received and deposited in the bagand before weight of the article is sensed through bag holding means 14and its temporary support on the scale platform 120. Bulk feedingcontinues until a preselected underweight condition is reached, the bulkfeed conveyor 86 is stopped, and the dribble feed continues until thefinal precise weight is reached. The last article fed to the receptacleis sensed by discharge apron 191 which causes an immediate response inthe weighing system beforethe article comes to rest in the bag. Dribblefeed conveyor belt 87 immediately stops and the bag holding means andarm can be swung to and through bag release position without any delaycaused by waiting for the last article to reach its position in the bag.Thus rapid sensing of the weight of the last article is accomplished bymeans of circuitry described in the prior example. Moreover, the chanceof an extra article being fed to the bag 'is minimized because thedribble feed conveyor belt 87 will have stopped upon the immediatesensing of the final weight article as it strikes the discharge apron191, and the next article would not have reached the discharge zone.

It will be understood that the relative speeds of receptacle. Where bulkand dribble feed conveyor may be varied to facilitate precise control ofthe material being fed to the receptacle.Where material being pack-'piece. Dribble feed conveyor speed relative to bulk feed speed ispreferably reduced and under some conditions may be only one-half thatof the bulk feed speed.

In some installations, it may be desirable to support the dribbledischarge apron 19] directly from plate 122 instead of extending thesupport column to the scale platform 120. It will be further understoodthat such an immediately responsive weighing device will be useful innot only a filling and weighing means embodying the present invention,but will also be useful in filling and weighing machines described in myU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,416,619 and 3,416,620 as the result of determining andresponding to the weight of an article immediately upon discharge fromthe article feed conveyor.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 11-14, vibratory meansgenerally indicated at 200 may include vibratory means 201 to impartvibrations with horizontal vibratory components only to receptacle orbag 12, such vibratory means 201 being interposed between the scaleplatform and. the bottom of bag 12. A moveable member or shakingplatform 202 is positioned at a selected height beneath bag 12 so thatthe bottom of the bag may contact as at 203 the top surface of platform202.

Means for supporting said moveable member 202 or platform for horizontalmovement in a horizontal plane only and in this example along thelongitudinal axis of the apparatus 10 may comprise a pair of wheels 204antifrictionally mounted at opposite ends of platform 202 and rollablyguided in parallel upwardly facing channel members 205. Channel members205 may be supported by suitable framework as upstanding columns 206fixed at their lower ends to a plate member 207. Plate member 207 may bemade of steel of selected thickness and 'may overlie and rest upon thetop surface of scale platform 120 as at 208.

Generally centrally of plate 207, a relatively small motor means 210 maybe carried by plate 207. Spaced from motor means 210 may be a pair ofupstanding shaft supports 211 on which may be antifrictionally mountedan offset shaft 212 which may be driven at one end thereof by chain andsprocket means 214 driven by motor means 210 through a suitable gearmeans 215. Offset shaft 212 may be pivotally connected to one end 217ofa link 218 pivotally connected at its other end 219 to a dependingbracket 220 secured to the central under surface portion of shakerplatform 202.

It will thus be apparent that upon energization of motor means 210,chain and sprocket means 214 will rotate offset shaft 212 which willreciprocate link 218 longitudinally to impart through bracket 220reciprocal movement to platform 202. Such rapid reciprocal movementimparted to shaking platform 202 will impart through contact at 203 withreceptacle 12 such horizontal vibrations and shaking movement to bag 12and the contents thereof.

Means for isolatlng such vibration from the scale platform and to permitthe scale platform to respond to articles fed to bag 12 and to thedischarge aprons 191 and 192 includes pairs of upstanding posts 224arranged at opposite ends of the steel plate 207 and seated upon basemember 225 of the scale means. Posts 224 may extend upwardly throughenlarged aligned openings 226 and 227 respectively in scale platform 120and plate 207. On the top of plate 207 at each post 224, a flangedcollar means 228 may be ensleeved over the upper end of post 224, saidcollar means 228 including a generally rectangular flange portion 229which is loosely located between stop members 230 disposed on each sideof the rectangular flange portion 229. The collar portion 231 of collarmeans 228 includes an inner chamber 232 in which a plurality ofball-type bearings 233 may be retained to permit virtually freeunrestrained vertical movement of scale platform 120 and plate 207relative to the upstanding posts 224. Other types of antifriction meanswhich permit movement axially of post 224 may be utilized.

It will thus be apparent that the vibratory means 201 must be consideredin the amount of tare weight when presetting'the scale means to theselected underweight condition and final precise weight condition.

In operation of apparatus'10 including the vibratory means 201, articlesfed from the bulk and dribble feed conveyor. means will be dischargedonto discharge aprons 191 and 192 and the weight of such articlestransmitted by columns 193 and 194 to scale platform 120. Asarticlestravel off discharge aprons 191 and 192, they fall into bag 12 and atthe bottom of bag 12, are located in partial weight relation to thesurface of shaker platform 202 which transmits the article weightthrough wheels 204 to end columns 206 to plate 207 and scale platform120. Scale platform 120 and plate 207 are readilly depressed by reasonof the axially disposed bearing means 233 in response to article weightreceived through plates 122 and columns 121 and platform 202. Since theflanged column means 288 has very loose tolerance with its stops 230 andthe aligned openings 226 and 227 are enlarged as compared to thediameter ofposts 224,-it will be apparent that vertical movement of thescale platform and plate 207 relative to post 224 is virtuallyunrestrained. Vibratory means 202 because of its eccentric and linkagearrangement together with the wheel mounting of shaker platform 202 willimpart only reciprocal movement in the horizontal plane of the channelmembers 205. Since the vibratory impulses are limited to a horizontalplane only, vertical components of such vibratory action are reduced toa minimum and are insignificant when translated to the vertical responseof the scale platform to the weight of articles fed to the scale meansand into the bag 12. Thus the function of weighing articles being fed iseffectively isolated from the function of imparting a shaking motion tobag 12 and its contents. It is understood that with some articles,shaking of bag 12 is highly desirable in order to provide a firm packand bags or receptacles which may be easily and readily handled inshipment and storage.

in a preferable mode of operation, the vibratory means 201 may beactuated during bulk filling and until the preselected underweightcondition is reached. At the moment the bulk feed is stopped, thevibratory means 201 may be also stopped so that the few articles to befed to the bag by the dribble feed to bring the bag to precise finalweight may be added to the bag without vibration thereof. It will beunderstood that the bag will be substantially filled at the preselectedunderweight condition and that vibration during the major period offilling will settle the articles in the receptacle so that the remainingdribble feed articles can be readily accommodated in the receptacle orbag.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the examples of theinvention described aboveand all such changes which come within thespirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims orembraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle filling and weighing apparatus including a bagholding means movable to a bag attaching station and a single bagfilling and weighing station, said apparatus also including a bagconveying means comprising an upstanding support member and arm meansrotatable thereon for rotatably transporting a bag to and through saidstations, the provision of:

composite unitary means for delivering a precise preselected quantity ofarticles to a bag at said single bag filling and weighing station, saidcomposite article delivering means including:

a bulk feed conveyor belt means for moving articles along a first pathin bulk quantities to a discharge zone at said filling and weighingstation,

a dribble feed conveyor belt means for moving articles along a secondpath vertically separated from said first path for a substantial portionof its length and meeting said first path of said discharge zone at saidsingle station,

and means for correlating advancement of said bulk and dribble feed beltmeans whereby said articles are simultaneously fed to said one stationby both bulk and dribble feed means until a predetermined incompleteweight is reached and whereby articles moved by said dribble feed beltmeans continue to be fed after said bulk feed means has been stoppeduntil a precise final weight is reached.

2. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said second path of saiddribble feed conveyor means is closely adjacent and alongside said firstpath of said bulk feed conveyor means,

and means for simultaneously feeding articles to said first and secondpaths.

3. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said means supportingsaid bag holding means comprising a circular disc provided with a camsurface extending therearound,

said cam surface including a bag release cam surface portion.

and cam follower means on said bag holding means for release of a filledbag at a bag release location.

4. in an apparatus as stated in claim 1 including a bag transportconveyor means having one end at said bag release location to receivereleased filled bags;

and means along said bag transport conveyor for sewing said bag.

5. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 including a weighing means;

and a discharge apron connected with said weighing means fortransmitting weight of said article to said weighing means before saidarticle is received in said bag.

6. In an apparatus as stated in claim I including:

means for supporting adjacent ends of said bulk and dribble feedconveyor means at said discharge zone and means releasably positioningsaid arm means at a bag applying station and at a bag filling andweighing station. 1 9. An apparatus as stated in claim 8 wherein saidreceptacle positioning means includes a receptacle installing stationfor releasably attachin a receptacle to said filling and holding means.

10. In a receptacle filling apparatuslthe combination article feedconveyor means including a conveyor frame and at least two conveyorbelts in side-byside parallel relation on said frame and having adjacentdischarge ends to-deliver articles to a single receptacle fillinglocation;

receptacle positioning means opposite the discharge 'ends of saidconveyor belts and including a receptacle transport means including areceptacle filling and releasable holding means;

a weighing means adjacent the transport means and at the location of thereceptacle positioning means and responsive to the weight of articlesfed by each of said belts to said receptacle means;

an actuating means for simultaneously starting both said conveyor beltsfor initially moving in bulk random fashion articles to said dischargeends,

means responsive to a first selected weight for stopping oneof saidarticle conveyor belts at said selected weight in said receptacle,-

and means for continuing the other article conveyor belt for discharginga selected quantity of discrete articles into said receptacle and forstopping said other conveyor belt in response to a final preselectedweight.

7 UNITEDSTATES-PATENT OFFICE ERT CA E QFHQQRR Patent No; 96 Dated June4, 1974 Inventor Stanley A. McClusky It is certified that error appearsin-the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent is v .herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 29.change "ensleevin" to ensleeving- "Column 6; line 66after "drive" delete Welding to the jside wall of the.conveyor". andinsert rmotor means 112 a which has a motor shaft and sprocket engagingthe-lower U end of drive Chain means 11 and which is supported by baseframe'25 at the conveyor means 18,-

*3 Column 7; delete lines 1 a 38.

Column 10; line 5 after "of"-delete "receptacle. Where"' and insertafter "of" the Signed and sealed this 17th day of December 1974.

' ,Attest= Mccoy' n. GI-BSONlJK, i c. MARSHALL DANN C 8 i9riCommissioner of Patents 7 NITEDSTATES iimr lsnr OFFICE a CERTIFICATEOFMCORRECTION" Patent No. 3,814,196 I I Dated June 4, 1974 InventorStanley McClusk I It is certified that error appears in theaboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent is v herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 29 .change "ensleevin" to ensle eving- Column 6', line 66after "drive" delete "welding to the side wall of the conveyor". andinsert .-motor means 112 which has :a motor shaft and sprocket engagingthe lower I end of drive chlain means 11 and which is supported by baseframe 25 at the conveyor means l8.-+

Column 7"; delete lines '1' 3s.

Column 10, line '5 after "of" -delete "receptacle. Where" and insertafter "of",the

' Signed and sealedthis 17th day of December 1974.

(SEA Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSONfJRL c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Offieer Commissioner ofPatents 1

